LINEAR MOMENTUM

When a force, F, is applied to an object for an amount of time, !t, the object acquires an increase to its " momentum, mvfinal- mvinitial . The term momentum is defined as P = mv , so that the change in the momentum " is !P. Since F = m a and a = ! v/!t, F = m!v/!t. Then F !t = m ! v F !t = m vf # m vi $ ! P Where F !t is called the impulse and ! P is the change in the momentum. To verify this equation, you have to measure the force, F, the time, !t, and the initial and final velocity of the object. (Note: you may have made these measurements in the Newton's Second Law Experiment. You can repeat it again, or you can make a second set of measurements.) Collisions provide another example of the conservation of linear momentum. When the force exists between the two objects, the force on object #1 is equal and opposite to the force on object #2.

% % i.e. F 0 $ # F 1 &'( )*'+, !-0 $ !-1 . /0 !-0 $ -/1 !-1 2,'+, *- 345546) )*'+, /0 !-0 $ 70 803 # 70 80* -9&70 803 # 70 80* $ # : 71 813 # 71 81* ; < 9*+9 *) ,=>*8&5,'- -4 ? 70 80* @ 71 81* $ 70 803 @ 71 813 A
Methodology ? Using the photogates to measure the amount of time that the glider takes to pass through the beam of the photogate (moves a distance equal to its length) you can calculate the velocity of the gliders (A & B) before and after the collision.

Procedure : Setting up the apparatus: 1) Level the air track. Place a bumper on the front of each glider and a flat insert on the back of the glider. Weigh gliders A & B and record their mass in the table. 2) Place the photogates approximately 40 cm apart in the middle of the air track. This is the collision zone (the collisions will take place in this region and we will measure the velocity of the gliders as they enter or leave the zone). 3) Plug the photogate #1 into the Digital channel #1 of the Science Workshop 700 interface box, and plug the photogate #2 into the Digital channel #2 of the Science Workshop 700 interface box. 4) Turn on the IBM PC and open Science Workshop from the Windows screen. 5) Open new experiment. 6) Use the mouse to drag the digital phoneplug to Digital channel #1. 7) Select photogates (2), enter length of glider 0.128 m , leave 0.2 m as the distance between photogates.
35

8) Now drag the icon for a table to Digital channel #1. 9) Select velocity vGate1 and velocity vGate2. 10) You are now ready to collect data. Elastic collisions (kinetic energy is conserved): I) Target glider is initially stationary. 1. Measure the mass of both gliders with a rubber band bumper on the right and a flat metal bumper on the left. The length of the glider is 12.8 cm (verify this). Record values in table 1. Place glider B between the two photogates (make sure there is enough room for glider A between photogate #1 and glider B so that glider A will clear the photogate before it hits glider B). 2. Click on record data with the mouse. Then give glider A a small push so that it passes through photogate #1 where the time is measured. It will strike glider B and come to a stop, since it would have transferred all of its momentum to glider B. Glider B will then pass through photogate #2. When it clears the photogate, you can stop it. Now click on the stop button, read the time t0 and t1 . Record these values in your table. The two times should be the same. 3. Add 100 grams to glider B, and repeat procedure #1. Click on record data with the mouse. Then give glider A a small push so that it passes through photogate #1 where the time is measured. It will strike glider B and bounce back, since it has less mass than glider B. Glider B will then pass through photogate #2, and glider A will move in the negative direction through photogate #1. When it clears the photogate, you can stop it. Now click on the stop button, read the time t0 and t1 . Record these values in your table. The second time for photogate #1 will give the negative velocity of glider A after the collision. 4. Take the 100 grams off of glider B and Add 100 grams to glider A, and repeat procedure #1. Click on record data with the mouse. Then give glider A a small push so that it passes through photogate #1 where the time is measured. It will strike glider B and continue in the same direction, since it has more mass than glider B. Glider B will then pass through photogate #2, and glider A will move in the positive direction through photogate #2. When it clears the photogate, you can stop it. Now click on the stop button, read the time t0 and t1 . Record these values in your table. The second time for photogate #2 will give the positive final velocity of glider A after the collision. Table 1: target glider initially stationary (Elastic collision)

MA

BB

CA*

CA3

CB3

C $ 01AD +7EF

BA CA*

BA CA3

BB CB3

BA CA3 @ BB CB3

% difference

Remember: the kinetic energy before should equal the kinetic energy after.
1 BA CA* 1 BA CA3 1 BB CB3 1 1 BA CA3 @ BB CB3

% difference

36

II) Target glider is initially moving in positive direction. 1. With no additional weight on the gliders, and both gliders to the right of photogate #1, click on the record button and give glider B a gentle push. After it has cleared photogate #1, give glider A a harder push so that it will collide with glider B between the photogates (you may wish to increase the distance between the photogates). When the gliders leave the collision zone and have cleared the photogates, you can stop them, click on STOP and record the times. Make sure that the velocity in the positive direction is marked "+" and when the glider was moving in the negative direction the velocity is marked "-". 2. Add 100 grams to glider B and repeat. 3. Move the 100 grams to glider A and repeat. Table 2. Both gliders moving initially in the same direction (positive)

MA

BB

VA*

CB*

CA3

CB3

BA CA*

BB CBi

BACAi @ BB CBi

BA CA3

BB CB3

BACA3 @ BB CB3

% diff

1 BA CA*

1 BB CB*

GHA* @ GHB*

1 BA CA3

1 BI CI3

GHJ3 @ GHI3

% diff

37

III) Target glider is initially moving in opposite directions. 1. With no additional weight on the gliders, and glider A to the right of photogate #1 and glider B on the left of photogate #2. click on the record button and give glider B a gentle push toward photogate #2 (negative direction), and give glider A a push so that it will collide with glider B between the photogates (you may wish to increase the distance between the photogates). When the gliders leave the collision zone and have cleared the photogates, you can stop them. Click on STOP and record the times. Make sure that the velocity in the positive direction is marked "+" and when the glider was moving in the negative direction the velocity is marked " # ". 2. Add 100 grams to glider B and repeat 3. Move the 100 grams to glider A and repeat. Table K. Both gliders moving initially in opposite directions ( v0 is positive but v1 is negative)

M0

B1

V0*

C1*

C03

C13

B0 C0*

B1 C1*

B0 C0* @ B1 C1*

B0 C03

B1 C13

B0 C03 @ B1 C13

% diff

1 B0 C0*

1 B1 C1*

GH0* @ GH1*

1 B0 C03

1 B1 C13

GH03 @ GH13

% diff

38

IVL Inelastic collision (target glider initially stationary, KE not conserved): 1. Measure the mass of glider A with the "nail" bumper on the left and a flat metal bumper on the right. Measure the mass of glider B with the "clay core" bumper on the right and a flat metal bumper on the left. 2. Place glider B between the photogates like you did for the elastic collision part I. 3. Give glider A a push (be careful the nail is sharp). Wait until both gliders exit photogate #2 before stopping them. Table 4. Inelastic collision (target glider initially stationary)

MA

BB

CA*

CA3

CB3

C $ 01AD +7EF

BA CA*

BA CA3

BB CB3

BA CA3 @ BB CB3

% difference

Remember the kinetic energy before should not be equal to the kinetic energy after.
1 BA CA* 1 BA CA3 1 BB CB3 1 1 BA CA3 @ BB CB3

% difference

39